Yep, if you’ve been around this block long enough you know that Southisms.com was born on a July.
And so was I.
You can’t blame me for loving the month of July. This month has been packed with so many things I hardly have time to go online and type one of ‘em posts for the birthday of this brainchild. Anyway, brief history: Southisms used to be and was supposed to be (exclusively) a music blog. The rise of the niche blogging hype had called this space for that purpose initially. However, the writer has transformed over time from the booze-guzzling musicionado to the tube-whirring, film-powered “student” of life, the universe and everything. So now this must be a blog about the universe and everything, as far as my media brain cell is concerned. But can’t help drifting back to music-related events since it’s still pretty much part of my nature.
Say for instance, I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about the upcoming Muzika del Sur Music Awards 2008 for August. Unfortunately I had an ear infection so I wasn’t able to cover their preliminary events.
I’ve heard the nominations have closed and that’s where the fun usually starts.
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Hey just want to make a quick update in case any of you are interested. The independent gig schedules are as follows: Read the rest of this entry »
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I have been going around Mindanao and have had little time to be in front of the computer in the most comfortable blogging position (which I argue is absolutely necessary, as I’m sure some of you might agree)! Moreover, I have been struggling to get some music back into my system at late since the climate of my career has not been very flexible on that extent. Seriously, I make an effort! I try to steal time to listen to Smashing Pumpkin’s newest album entitled, Zeitgeist, their come-back album with a sound reminiscent of old goddamn school 90’s rock. If you’re a purist and you’re about to start dissing grunge, close this window right this instant!
Anyway.
It’s been an interesting month, thus far. And I can say the same thing about the previous month. I went to Cagayan to check out the music scene there and quite frankly, I was impressed. My heart bled over the fact that the Cagayan music scene seems more enthusiastic and more, shall I say, formidable compared to Davao’s. Not that I’m dissing our locals, no no. My point is, I wish the scene here would grow in terms of musical taste, and maybe even music support.
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- Author: Kim
- Filed under: 'Ze Think Tank, Davao, Events, Foreign Artist, Indie, Local Scene, Mindanao, Music, News, Playlists
- Date: Jun 17,2007
I’m currently under Rock Rehab - kind of my made up term for this period of time I’ve decided to lock myself away from all other types of music except of course, Rock. This involves hours worth of listening to Rock-only playlists with artists like Radiohead, The New Pornographers, The Decemberists, Wolfmother, Deftones, The Metric, Frank Zappa and the inescapable 70’s jangle rock of Steely Dan (mind you, this is just to name a few). I’ve come up with a pretty eclectic array of artist to be listened to probably up until the end of this month.
I guess at this point, you might be asking why?
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…to update. So I was going to do this whole rap about podcasting, however, had little time to finish the draft I’ve been working for two weeks already! I’m not getting anything done at the rate I’m going. It’s been a busy week in “real life” what with all my pre-final exams and the crazy lifestyle I’ve been keeping up with. Currently having a week-long gig at Madrazo compound and I’m just dying to get the beach at one point during the city festival.
So for the meantime, let me just say happy Araw ng Dabaw to you all! And show up at the blogger’s party tomorrow at Netfront 6-7pm-ish. I’ll take care of registration and I’ll make sure you get you’re free cookie. And you can get to shake my hand finally!
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Success.
And we’ll have another an encore this Friday at Paseo de Roxas. On Saturday, it’ll be at Fountain place, Agdao. You can’t miss the part 2. See y’all!
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Over the week I’ve sat in conversations with my bandmates on stuff like how the Davao underground music scene is doing. Sad to say, the shape sounds pretty bad. It isn’t like last summer, when there were prime spots as to where underground bands could play, i.e. the now d’funked G Rock bar and Mastul. Seeing as both establishments closed down already, with Moonstomp as the only place condusive to the kind of music indie bands play (consider how the place can’t sufficiently accomodate the whole lot of a local indie crowd - which is pretty immense, mind you), then problems still pose itself for bands who want to come up with a successful gig. And by successful, the pre-requisites are pretty simple: We invest time and money over band practices just to get exposure and if possible enough money to buy booze to last the rest of the night.
Going along the vision to come up with a successful gig in spite of scarce incentives as well as problems on actually finding a venue, Davao indie productions Don’t Record Records and Red hat are teaming up for an Octoberfest gig. I say kudos to that, realizing how it’s hard enough to keep indie bands from staying together because of the lack of avenues and more so, making sure that the integrity of the kind of music they play do not sway to the masses or for venues that require underground bands to turn a leaf for the showbandish just so they can get a gig (i.e. Taboan or even San Miguel).
Reality tells us that Davao may have all the musical talent it requires to warm up a mature music scene, but there isn’t enough production force to keep the scene intact.
***
Listening to a lot of Jeff Buckley lately. Personally, my take on Jamie Cullum’s jazz cover of Buckley’s Lover, you should have come over is more on the no no. Nothing can beat Buckley when he makes the most heartbreaking ballads I’ve ever heard. If you can call it a ballad.
Narda’s out in Davao by the way. CDs are available in the nearest Oddysey record stores near you.
***
More announcements! I have gig with my band Tramonto at Myx-a-tune (Juan Luna St.) 7-ish up this October 14. Please support!
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I almost forgot to mention about this new bar that opened up at McArthur Highway (right next to the old Petron gas station and in front of Ateneo high). It’s called Moonstomp and the place is very Mayrics-ish. I swear, I have found my Ibiza! It’s owned by one of the coolest people you notice around Davao city, if you get out enough.
Last night, they had party punk acts and some electronica. The only band whose name I caught was the one my friend Pink was with, Gravity 404. Loved their set (or at least half of it, because that was all I caught up with). In any case, it’s actually peculiar that I suddenly had the urge to text Jaenor (this guy who has been asking me to session for their band, who I’ve never met in my life) to ask if the offer was still up. And the next day he replied and told me that it was still open. The weirder part is, he was actually in Moonstomp the night I was there and he was with the band I just mentioned. Whoohoo. So at least I know I’m with the right people. (Smiles.) Can’t wait for Wednesday’s jam session.
I really want to start a shoegazer band, but I don’t think anyone’s in to that here. Which reminds me, I miss my bandmates! One’s in Cebu, another’s in US, and then another’s in Manila. Come on, give me a break kids. Davao’s the place to be at this point. We ought to warm up on the scene here.
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